Glossary
Nautical chart abbreviations are like the secret code of the seas—except instead of buried treasure, they lead to rocks, buoys, and mysterious dashed lines that scream, 'Don’t sail here.' Learning them can feel like cracking a pirate’s encrypted diary, but don’t worry, matey! With clever tools, quirky mnemonics, and a splash of humour, we’ll help you go from 'What’s "FOUL" mean? to confidently navigating the “Wk” wrecks and “Fl G” flashes like a salty sea captain. Think of it as Rosetta Stone, but for avoiding sandbanks!
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TermDefinition
- General Nautical Terminology Back
To back a sail means to adjust it so that the wind blows on the opposite side from normal, causing the sail to push the boat in the opposite...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Bearing to Waypoint (BTW)
Bearing to waypoint refers to the direction to reach a specific point, known as a waypoint. The bearing is given as the crow flies and does not...
More Details - Weather (Meteorology) Beaufort Scale
The Beaufort Scale is a system for estimating and reporting wind speeds based on observed sea conditions. British Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Block
A block is a type of pulley system used to change the direction of a line, rope, or cable on a boat. Blocks consist of one or more grooved...
More Details - Did you know?, General Nautical Terminology Bosun
A bosun, short for boatswain, is a senior crew member on a ship responsible for the vessel's maintenance, repair, and overall operation. The...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Knot Bowline
A type of knot used to form a fixed loop at the end of a rope, commonly employed in maritime settings for securing or towing.
The bowline is...
More Details - Phonetic Alphabet Bravo
In marine terminology, "Bravo" is the phonetic term for the letter "B" in the International Code of Signals. It is used to communicate messages...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology BTW
Bearing to waypoint refers to the direction to reach a specific point, known as a waypoint. The bearing is given as the crow flies and does not...
More Details